Printer Friendly Page 

Curlin joins select club as two-time Horse of the Year

Curlin's record-breaking season garnered him another Horse of the Year title (Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins) Much to the delight of Thoroughbred racing fans, Stonestreet Stables' CURLIN (Smart Strike) returned to the races in 2008 after winning Horse of the Year honors as a three-year-old. The muscular chestnut enjoyed a bountiful season, breaking Cigar's North American earnings record and eventually retiring with a bankroll of $10,501,800. Thus, it was only fitting that Curlin should become the first horse to repeat as Horse of the Year since Cigar in 1995-96. The honor was bestowed during Monday night's Eclipse Awards ceremony at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach in Miami Beach, Florida. Curlin was also named the champion older male of 2008 after capturing his second consecutive Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) as well as the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), Stephen Foster H. (G1) and Woodward S. (G1). The Eclipse accolade comes on the heels of the World Thoroughbred Rankings, in which Curlin was hailed as the joint-best horse in the world with Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) star New Approach.

Trained by Eclipse Award winner Steve Asmussen, Curlin opened his four-year-old season in Dubai, easily winning a handicap event under a 132-pound impost before taking on some of the world's best horses in the Dubai World Cup. He turned the prestigious 1 1/4-mile event into a laugher, dominating his nearest rival by a record 7 3/4-length margin, and returned to the United States for a freshening.

Curlin has an imposing physical presence (Benoit Photo) Returning to the races at Churchill Downs in mid-June, Curlin made short work of his overmatched foes in the Stephen Foster, registering a 4 1/4-length decision, and his connections then decided to experiment on turf, using the Man o' War S. (G1) in July as a possible launching spot toward an engagement in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1). Curlin didn't run poorly over the hard course at Belmont Park, rallying stoutly for runner-up honors behind 2006 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) winner Red Rocks (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]), but the setback eliminated the Arc from the discussion. The 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) winner returned to the dirt for his next two outings. Curlin never tasted defeat on a dirt track during 2008. He captured the Woodward at Saratoga in late August and made his penultimate career start in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont, winning handily under regular rider Robby Albarado. Principal owner Jess Jackson, who had serious reservations all year about trying Curlin on a synthetic track in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita, proved to be the ultimate sportsman and decided to send Curlin west for a title defense, his career finale. Displaying the true heart of a champion over unfamiliar footing, Curlin tried as hard as he could over the Pro-Ride surface, rallying to the lead at the top of the stretch before weakening to fourth at the finish line, beaten only 2 3/4 lengths. It was not meant to be for the courageous colt, and his supporters will point to the synthetic as his undoing.

Named for Charlie Curlin, a former slave and Civil War veteran, Curlin retired with a career line of 16-11-2-2. Bred in Kentucky by Fares Farm Inc., he sold for $57,000 as a Keeneland September yearling and was originally campaigned by Midnight Cry Stable, which retained a 20-percent interest after selling the colt for a reported $3.5 million following his career debut. Curlin is the first stakes winner out of the unraced Sherriff's Deputy (Deputy Minister), who has since produced the juvenile filly Deputy Saint (Saint Liam). This is the same family as 1997 champion two-year-old filly and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) victress Countess Diana (Deerhound) as well as the ill-fated multiple Grade 1-winning Exogenous (Unbridled).

In 2007, Curlin earned Horse of the Year honors by virtue of victories in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Preakness, Arkansas Derby (G2) and Rebel S. (G3). He just missed in the Belmont S. (G1) to champion filly Rags to Riches, and also placed in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Haskell Invitational (G1).

The mighty racehorse now stands at Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Kentucky, for a $75,000 stud fee.

*The tallies represent only first-place votes from members of the consolidated voting entities, NTRA/Equibase, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers Association. For each division, the three horses, or people, with the most first-place votes are listed. 

Zenyatta was a nearly unanimous choice for champion older female (Benoit Photo) Twenty years after the great Personal Ensign capped off her undefeated career with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), Jerry and Ann Moss's ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) moved her record to a perfect nine-for-nine in the newly renamed Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) at Santa Anita. The win not only capped off a stellar year for the John Shirreffs charge, but ensured her name on an Eclipse Award as 2008 champion older female. She came close to a unanimous verdict by taking 240 first-place votes, with only two first-place votes cast for last year's champion older female Ginger Punch (Awesome Again). When accepting the Eclipse Award, record industry magnate Jerry Moss recalled that Zenyatta's name comes from the album Zenyatta Mondatta by The Police. Moss explained that the words mean "the top of the world" in Sanskrit, and added that's how they felt at the moment. Zenyatta's four-year-old season began with her stakes debut in the El Encino S. (G2), and the dark bay gave a preview of what the year was to hold when exploding past her more seasoned rivals in the stretch to record a 1 3/4-length score. Given a three month break, she returned next out to utilize her soon-to-be-patented late kick to earn her first Grade 1 victory. That particular score came while Zenyatta was also trying the dirt for the first time in the Apple Blossom H., where she had Ginger Punch back in third.

Returned to Hollywood Park, Zenyatta continued to pad her resume, capturing the Milady H. (G2) and Vanity H. (G1) before switching over to Del Mar and scoring a length tally in the Clement L. Hirsch H. (G2). She had her first taste of Santa Anita's new Pro-Ride surface when cruising to a 3 1/2-length victory in the Lady's Secret S. (G1), then stayed at that track to dazzle the Breeders' Cup Friday crowd with her late charge in the lane.

Zenyatta was leisurely running along in last and still hadn't been asked for her run in the Ladies' Classic when longtime leader Bear Now (Tiznow) entered the final turn of the nine-furlong event. Not long after, though, the classy filly simply inhaled her rivals. Circling the entire field rounding the turn, she continued her run down the center of the stretch, receiving just two taps from the whip during that time, to draw off by 1 1/2 lengths on the line.

Bred by Maverick Production Limited in Kentucky, Zenyatta went to her current connections for $60,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. She is out of the winning Vertigineux (Kris S.), making her a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 queen Balance (Thunder Gulch), the three-year-old filly Treasure Trail (Pulpit) and the juvenile colt Souper Spectacular (Giant's Causeway). The now five-year-old mare, who is from the same family as 2001 Canadian champion turf mare Sweetest Thing (Candy Stripes), has accumulated $2,144,580 in earnings from her undefeated line.

Zenyatta is back in training at Hollywood Park in preparation for a 2009 campaign.

BIG BROWN (Boundary) took the racing world by storm last spring with awesome victories in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Florida Derby (G1), and the Kentucky-bred colt similarly dominated the Eclipse Award voting for champion three-year-old male. Owned by IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr., the handsome bay captured six of seven starts in 2008, including four Grade 1 wins.

Big Brown's dazzling Derby will go down in history (Charles Pravata/Horsephotos.com) Big Brown opened his 2008 campaign in stirring fashion, registering a 12 3/4-length allowance tally prior to a five-length score in the Florida Derby from post 12. Trainer Richard Dutrow exuded extreme confidence in the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby, predicting victory at every opportunity, and Big Brown did not let him down, recording one of the most dominant Kentucky Derby wins in modern times. Breaking from the extreme post position 20, Big Brown was widest of all entering the first turn and catapulted himself around rivals on the far turn to reach the lead in upper stretch. The favorite cruised to the finish line under the Twin Spires, remaining unbeaten with a 4 3/4-length decision over the ill-fated Eight Belles. Big Brown carried his momentum forward to Pimlico, taking the Preakness by a convincing 5 1/4 lengths, and his march toward Triple Crown glory looked inevitable to many onlookers. A big, fast and flashy individual, Big Brown possessed all the physical tools to end the 30-year Triple Crown drought and appeared to tower over his overmatched rivals in the three-year-old division. However, his training for the third leg of the Triple Crown was disrupted by foot problems, and Big Brown didn't show up with his best in the Belmont, suffering his only career loss while being eased down the stretch by Kent Desormeaux.

He rebounded in front of a full house at Monmouth Park in the Haskell Invitational, gamely wearing down the pacesetter to win going away in the end, and displayed his versatility when taking the grassy Monmouth S. over older horses in what turned out to be his final start. Big Brown was unfortunately hurt while training for the Breeders' Cup Classic, and he retired to stud with an 8-7-0-0 line and $3,614,500 in earnings.

Bred in Kentucky by Monticule, Big Brown brought the gavel down at $190,000 at the 2007 Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training sale. He is out of the winning Mien (Nureyev) and counts current three-year-old filly My Chestnut Girl (Horse Chestnut [SAf]), an unnamed juvenile filly by Touch Gold and a yearling filly by Belong to Me as half-siblings. This is the same female family as 1997 champion older mare Hidden Lake (Quiet American), who captured that year's Hempstead H. (G1), Go for Wand S. (G1), Beldame S. (G1) and Shuvee H. (G2).

Big Brown provided Thoroughbred racing fans around the world with quite a thrill last season. In 2009, he will begin his new stud career at Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Kentucky, for a $65,000 fee.

Following a grueling season for both filly and barn, Brereton Jones's homebred PROUD SPELL (Proud Citizen) was honored as champion three-year-old filly over her gallant stablemate Eight Belles, by a margin of 90 first-place votes for Proud Spell to 71 for Eight Belles.

Proud Spell defeated another champion in Indian Blessing (Lou Hodges/Fair Grounds) The Larry Jones-trained Proud Spell began her three-year-old campaign in the same way she ended her juvenile season, with a runner-up effort to champion Indian Blessing (Indian Charlie). As a two-year-old, she was second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), and the Kentucky-bred followed Indian Blessing home yet again as a three-year-old, this time in the Silverbulletday S. (G3) at Fair Grounds. She turned the tables on Indian Blessing next out in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), and Proud Spell then ran third in the Ashland S. (G1) over Keeneland's Polytrack in her final prep before the Kentucky Oaks (G1). She really showed what she could do in the latter event, settling just off the leader on the outside and tracking the pacesetter all the way around the track. Proud Spell merely opened up on the field in the stretch, drawing off by five lengths over the sloppy, sealed track after never being challenged.

The Mother Goose S. (G1) at Belmont Park proved to be a true test of heart for Proud Spell. The problems began at the very beginning as she nearly went to her knees when the gates opened and found herself squeezed back to last. Recovering to get up in her usual stalking position along the inside, her next obstacle came in the stretch when jockey Gabriel Saez attempted to send her through an opening on the rail. Pacesetter Never Retreat (Smart Strike) drifted back in and closed the gap, forcing Proud Spell to take up sharply and drop all the way back to last again. Saez first took his filly to the outside, found the way blocked and angled her back in when room once again appeared. Proud Spell began drifting out a bit in the stretch, taking Never Retreat with her, and eventually finished 3 1/2 lengths back of Music Note (A.P. Indy) in second.

The stewards disqualified Proud Spell to third and promoted Never Retreat to second because of that drifting incident. Nonetheless, it was an excellent effort for the filly, who was cut up a bit during the running of the race, and she redeemed herself just two weeks later in the Delaware Oaks (G2). Settled into fourth in that event, she came three wide around the turn and got up late to score by three parts of a length. Proud Spell then met up with rival Music Note for only the second time in what was a thrilling edition of the 1 1/4-mile Alabama S. (G1) at Saratoga. The bay lass had the advantage entering the stretch, but Music Note was closing on the outside. A gripping match race developed in the stretch, with the rest of the field forgotten as Proud Spell and Music Note hooked up. Proud Spell dug in, stretched out her neck and never let Music Note get past her in the lane, eventually crossing under the line a head in front.

Proud Spell ended the year in the Cotillion S. (G2), where a demanding season, bad racing luck and top impost all took its toll. The sophomore was toting five to 10 pounds more than her rivals in that event and was carried wide around the final turn. Displaying the courage that had defined her entire campaign, she didn't give up, but was forced to settle for second.

Proud Spell is out of the winning mare Pacific Spell (Langfuhr), who has since produced an unnamed juvenile colt by Friends Lake and an unnamed yearling colt by Forest Grove. This is the same family as 1989 Santa Anita Oaks (G1) winner and Kentucky Oaks runner-up Imaginary Lady (Marfa). Proud Spell has run up a 12-7-3-2, $2,123,610, so far during her career. She has recently resumed training at Fair Grounds.

MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled's Song) was the clear choice for champion two-year-old male honors, garnering 195 first-place votes following just one loss from four starts in 2008. Conditioned by Bob Baffert throughout his juvenile campaign, the chestnut made his racing debut at Del Mar on August 17, recording a 1 1/4-length maiden special weight victory on Polytrack

Midshipman will try to follow Street Sense by turning the Juvenile-Derby double (Benoit Photo) Returning just 17 days later, Midshipman battled it out late with Coronet of a Baron (Pure Prize) in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), getting up late to earn the nose score. He suffered his first loss when second in the Norfolk S. (G1) at Santa Anita next out, but immediately returned to the winner's circle in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at that same track. On that day, Midshipman assumed command prior to the half-mile point and went on to secure the win by 1 1/4 lengths in what would be his two-year-old finale. Midshipman thereby emulated his sire, who won the Juvenile in 1995 at Belmont Park in his third career start. Days prior to the Del Mar Futurity, Darley Stable acquired Midshipman from Robert McNair's Stonerside Stable, along with most of the other assets from McNair's Thoroughbred operation. Midshipman was subsequently promoted to Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin team and is currently wintering in Dubai. He will prepare for next year's classics with a 4-3-1-0 mark and earnings of $1,380,200.

Out of the multiple Grade 2-winning Fleet Lady (Avenue of Flags), Midshipman counts 2003 Cotillion H. (G2) victress Fast Cookie (Deputy Minister) as a half-sibling as well as an unnamed juvenile colt by Ghostzapper and a yearling filly by Distorted Humor. This is the female family of French Group 1 winner and successful sire Salse (Topsider), 2008 Sunshine Millions Turf winner and multiple Grade 1-placed War Monger (War Chant) and, further back, 1956 champion two-year-old filly Leallah (*Nasrullah).

A natural come-from-behind runner, STARDOM BOUND (Tapit) had only one rival beaten after the first half-mile of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita, but the gray streak showed her typical burst of speed from the back rounding the second turn and drew off in the stretch for a convincing 1 1/2-length win. In the process, the filly wrapped up champion two-year-old filly honors in overwhelming fashion with 236 first-place votes.

Stardom Bound could take on the boys this spring (Benoit Photo) Stardom Bound kicked off her career with a nose defeat in her debut going 5 1/2 furlongs over Del Mar's Polytrack on July 20, and again took runner-up honors in the Sorrento S. (G3) 17 days later in her next start at the track. Beginning with the Del Mar Debutante (G1), Stardom Bound proved unstoppable for trainer Chris Paasch, winning that seven-furlong fixture by 4 1/4 lengths, and then stretching out successfully to take the 1 1/16-mile Oak Leaf S. (G1) by 3 1/2 lengths in her Santa Anita bow. Stardom Bound is out of My White Corvette, a stakes winner and Grade 2-placed daughter of Tarr Road, and counts as half-siblings an unnamed juvenile colt by Roman Ruler and a yearling filly by Lion Heart. Bred in Kentucky by Fletcher Gray, Carolyn Gray and John Youngblood, Stardom Bound's record now stands at 5-3-2-0, $1,420,600.

Purchased for $375,000 at the OBS March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, she raced in the colors of Charles Cono during her championship campaign. On November 2, Stardom Bound brought a hefty $5.7 million from Nick Sallusto, agent for IEAH Stables, at Fasig-Tipton's November Selected Sale at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky.

Since being purchased by IEAH, Stardom Bound has been transferred to trainer Bobby Frankel. She has been working sharply toward her three-year-old bow in the February 7 Las Virgenes S. (G1) at Santa Anita. After that, she may well take on the boys, and a tilt at the Kentucky Derby (G1) may ultimately be in the cards.

If Lord Palmerston opined that Britain gained its empire in a "fit of absent-mindedness," he may well have quipped that the English-based CONDUIT (Ire) (Dalakhani) plundered an Eclipse Award in a similarly haphazard fashion. For Conduit was not even expected to mount a transatlantic invasion, but was rather slated to go into winter quarters after handing trainer Sir Michael Stoute his first victory in the St Leger (Eng-G1). Stoute had second thoughts in the wake of the world's oldest classic, however, and in a bold change of plan, he plotted an assault on the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Santa Anita.

Conduit bagged a Breeders' Cup trophy and an Eclipse Award in one fell swoop (Benoit Photo) Conduit had never faced older rivals before, and he was cutting back from the extended 1 3/4 miles of the St Leger, on rain-softened turf at Doncaster, to 1 1/2 miles on the firm ground of Southern California. Neither posed the slightest difficulty for the Ballymacoll Stud homebred, who unleashed a championship-caliber performance. After rating well off the blistering early pace, Conduit finished with a flourish to overwhelm Eagle Mountain (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) and rapidly kicked 1 1/2 lengths clear. As if the manner of his victory were not impressive enough, he also managed to set a new stakes record of 2:23 2/5, the fastest clocking in the 25-year history of the Breeders' Cup Turf. Eagle Mountain went on to uphold the form with an emphatic score in the December 14 Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1), where he dismissed a world-class field.

Given the unsettled, fluctuating state of the American turf division all year long, Conduit's Breeders' Cup triumph was sufficient to clinch the Eclipse Award. In much the same way, just five years earlier, Ballymacoll's Islington (Ire) captured the 2003 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) for Stoute, and her lone American start was enough to earn her the Eclipse as champion turf female.

Conduit sports a 9-5-1-2 mark with $2,486,379 in earnings. A smashing winner of a heritage handicap on Epsom Derby Day, the chestnut finished a troubled second in the King Edward VII S. (Eng-G2) at Royal Ascot. He has yet to taste defeat since then. Conduit displayed grit to take the Gordon S. (Eng-G3) at Goodwood, but he was much more impressive in the St Leger, where he quickened in devastating style to win by three commanding lengths.

Out of the unraced Sadler's Wells mare Well Head, the Irish-bred colt is a half-brother to English Group 2 winner Hard Top (Ire) (Darshaan), most recently fourth in the W.L. McKnight H. (G2) at Calder. Well Head is herself a half-sister to Spectrum (Rainbow Quest), hero of the 1995 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) and Champion S. (Eng-G1), and Stream of Gold (Ire) (Rainbow Quest), victor of last year's Mac Diarmida H. (G2). Conduit hails from the stellar family of multiple English and Irish highweight Petrushka (Ire) (Unfuwain), 2000 St Leger hero Millenary (Rainbow Quest), and English and French champion filly Sun Princess (English Prince).

Conduit is expected to continue his racing career as a four-year-old this season.

Thirty years after they teamed up with Hall of Fame steeplechaser Cafe Prince, George Strawbridge Jr. and Jonathan Sheppard struck gold once again with champion turf female FOREVER TOGETHER (Belong to Me), whose name sums up their owner-trainer relationship. At this time last year, Forever Together's career seemed to be stuck in a downward spiral, and her subsequent ascent through the turf ranks is a tribute to the horsemanship of her Hall of Fame conditioner. Sheppard is often remembered more for his steeplechase stars than his Flat horses, but in light of Forever Together's remarkable turnaround, that impression may change.

Forever Together began her career on the dirt. She captured her first three starts, including the 2007 Forward Gal S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park, and she just missed by a neck in the Beaumont S. (G2) next time out on Keeneland's Polytrack. Thereafter, however, she lost her form. Forever Together's nerves began to get the better of her, she became a non-sweater, and as Sheppard later related, she turned "sour" and did not want to train.

Forever Together rose from turf debutante to champion in a five-month span (Benoit Photo) To promote her ability to sweat, Sheppard prescribed a pint of Guinness stout every evening, which she happily consumed in her feed. He also switched her to the grass. Whether Forever Together relished her Guinness, or the turf, or a combination of the two, she was a new horse, ready to fulfill her abundant early promise. She went on to become the latest equine poster child for Guinness, following in the footsteps of 1985 champion turf mare Pebbles (GB). Forever Together soon manifested her approval for her new regimen. In her turf debut, she swept to a 1 1/4-length victory in the Reluctant Guest S. at Arlington Park in May. Taking a significant hike in class for the Just a Game S. (G1) next time out at Belmont Park, Forever Together encountered traffic trouble and had to steady, but she flew home late to finish an eye-catching third.

The Diana S. (G1) at Saratoga proved to be her breakthrough race, as she crushed an outstanding group. After loping in last early, Forever Together uncorked an electrifying rally in the stretch to win in grand style, going away by three-quarters of a length. Things did not go right for her in the Canadian S. (Can-G2), where she wound up third on yielding ground, but she rebounded with two convincing victories to earn the Eclipse. In the First Lady S. (G1) at Keeneland, she rolled past Precious Kitten as if she were standing still, and in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), she outkicked another stellar field in the final strides. Her record now reads 14-7-1-3 with earnings of $2,004,533.

Bred by White Fox Farm in Kentucky, Forever Together brought $240,000 as an OBS March two-year-old. She is out of the unraced Relaunch mare Constant Companion, making her a half-sister to multiple stakes-placed Princess Patricia (Aptitude). This is the same family as multiple champion filly Open Mind (Deputy Minister), Canadian Horse of  the Year Peaks and Valleys (Mt. Livermore), and Grade 2 winner and noted sire Broken Vow (Unbridled).

Plans call for Forever Together to race in 2009.

Though he left the scene in August after an ankle chip was discovered while preparing for the Forego S. (G1), IEAH Stables et al's BENNY THE BULL (Lucky Lionel) proved to the satisfaction of the purists that he was the fastest dirt sprinter in the world, winning all four of his starts including a 1 3/4-length triumph in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) halfway across the globe at Nad al Sheba. Ultimately, the Richard Dutrow charge ended the year with a 17-9-1-2 career mark and earnings of $2,221,630.

At the time of his injury, it was widely reported that Benny the Bull would be retired. Upon receiving the Eclipse Award, however, IEAH Stables' Michael Iavarone announced that Benny the Bull would return to racing in 2009 in hopes of defending his sprint crown.

Benny the Bull's early-season heroics left a big impression on the voters (Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins) Ending his 2007 campaign with a victory in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G1), Benny the Bull started 2008 on an authoritative note, capturing the Sunshine Millions Sprint by 4 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:08 2/5 over Gulfstream's fast six-furlong course. While impressive in its own right, a more demanding test awaited in the Dubai Golden Shaheen, run over a straight six furlongs against a field unrestricted by place of birth. Outpaced early, Benny the Bull maintained a straight course throughout and wore down longtime leader Idiot Proof (Benchmark) to win going away in a time of 1:08.70. Proving that the trip to and from Dubai can take its toll, Benny the Bull was not nearly as sharp for his next race, the True North H. (G2) at Belmont Park. Four lengths adrift with a furlong to go, Benny the Bull somehow turned back certain defeat into a neck victory in the final jump, completing six furlongs in 1:09. In what turned out to be his seasonal finale, Benny the Bull capitalized on the swift fractions with an off-the-pace rally in the Smile Sprint H. (G2) at Calder, scoring by two lengths in a time of 1:11 2/5 while toting 124 pounds. Aboard was Edgar Prado, his pilot throughout his five-year-old campaign.

Bred by Tomoka Farms in Florida, Benny the Bull was originally purchased for $38,000 at the 2004 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and was bought privately by IEAH in the middle of 2007. The first foal from stakes heroine Comet Cat (Birdonthewire), he hails from the family of Blue Finn (Empery), Canada's champion two-year-old colt in 1986, and Grade 3-winning millionaire Maysville Slew (Slew City Slew). Benny the Bull's fourth dam, Consequential (Dr. Fager), is a three-quarter sister to Killaloe (Dr. Fager), the dam of 1981 Metropolitan H. (G1) hero and outstanding sire Fappiano (Mr. Prospector).

Hal and Patti Earnhardt's homebred INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) has blazed many trails in her two seasons at the track, winning from coast-to-coast on dirt and synthetic surfaces, going two turns but predominantly around one. In garnering her second divisional title, the Bob Baffert-trained lass becomes the first juvenile champion of either sex in more than 50 years to claim a sprinting championship and the first under the auspices of the Eclipse Awards, which date to 1971.

Dominating in three starts at two, including scores in the Frizette S. (G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), Indian Blessing was initially treated as a Kentucky Oaks (G1) prospect early in her sophomore campaign. After narrowly holding on by a head to claim the Santa Ynez S. (G2) at Santa Anita in a freakish 1:19 2/5 for seven furlongs over the old Cushion Track, Indian Blessing made her way to Fair Grounds where she captured the Silverbulletday S. (G3) at 1 1/16 miles. However, the speedy bay met her first reversal next out in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), fading into second 2 1/4 lengths behind eventual champion Proud Spell, whom she had beaten by a length in the Silverbulletday.

Indian Blessing made history by landing her second Eclipse Award (Benoit Photo) Recognizing the futility in forcing Indian Blessing to harness her speed over a route of ground, Baffert decided to take her off the Oaks trail and instead exploit the filly's specialty -- sprinting. Off for nearly three months following the Fair Grounds Oaks, Indian Blessing reappeared in the one-mile Acorn S. (G1), but ran into a buzzsaw named Zaftig (Gone West), who slammed the field by 4 1/2 lengths with Indian Blessing a clear second. Much sharper for her next start, and for several months thereafter, Indian Blessing proceeded to rack up scores in the Prioress S. (G1), Test S. (G1) and Gallant Bloom H. (G2), the latter over older rivals, by a combined margin of 18 1/2 lengths. After toying with the idea of taking on males in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), Baffert instead took the safe route and put Indian Blessing in the Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on Breeders' Cup Friday. Despite escaping in her only previous start on synthetic, the crowd made her the 9-5 choice in a field of 13. On top after a 1:07 4/5 three-quarter mile split, Indian Blessing was inhaled by Ventura (Chester House) en route to a four-length romp, though the favorite held a two-length cushion for runner-up honors. Not willing to see her season end in defeat, Baffert brought the champion back on December 27 to notch the La Brea S. (G1) over her fellow three-year-olds to cap an outstanding season.

Bred in Kentucky, Indian Blessing is out of the stakes-winning and multiple Grade 3-placed Shameful (Flying Chevron), whose latest offspring are an unnamed juvenile colt and an unnamed yearling colt, both by Roman Ruler. She comes from the same family as Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy (Sunday Silence), Grade 1 heroines Cat's Cradle (Flying Paster) and Roamin Rachel (Mining), and Grade 3 victress Another (Seattle Slew).

Indian Blessing's record currently stands at 12-9-3-0 with earnings of $2,437,200. Her major early-season goal is the March 28 Dubai Golden Shaheen, where she would tackle males for the first time.

In a division where multiple seasons of dominance are commonplace, it was not surprising that Sonny Via's GOOD NIGHT SHIRT (Concern) successfully defended his steeplechase crown in 2008. What was most impressive was the way he did it, winning five Grade 1 races in as many attempts and bankrolling $485,520, which smashed his own single-season earnings mark of $314,163 set in 2007. With career steeplechase earnings of $934,493, Good Night Shirt is now third all-time in career earnings behind McDynamo and Lonesome Glory, who combined won eight Eclipse Awards as the nation's top jumper.

With the exception of his final start of the season, Good Night Shirt was not seriously challenged during his campaign. After a 1 1/2-length score in the Georgia Cup (NSA-G1) at Atlanta, the Jack Fisher charge notched his second consecutive Iroquois Hurdle (NSA-G1) at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, Tennessee, taking the grueling three-mile test by 4 1/2 lengths. After scoring a repeat victory four months later in the Lonesome Glory Hurdle (NSA-G1) at Belmont Park, Good Night Shirt made amends for his fourth-place finish in the previous season's Grand National Steeplechase (NSA-G1) at Far Hills, New Jersey, scoring by four handy lengths under Willie Dowling, who was aboard the chestnut for each of his starts last season.

Even with the Eclipse virtually sewn up following the Grand National, Good Night Shirt ventured to Camden, South Carolina, for the division's final major test, the 2 3/4-mile Colonial Cup (NSA-G1) over the Springdale Race Course. Forced to chase a loose-on-the-lead Preemptive Strike (Roanoke), Good Night Shirt had to endure a stretch-long slugfest with that rival to prevail by a neck.

The now eight-year-old has amassed a bankroll of $969,083 from a line of 31-13-4-3, which encompasses both his jumps and flat career. In addition to his stakes triumphs during his two championship campaigns, Good Night Shirt's resume also includes a score in the 2006 David L. "Zeke" Ferguson Memorial Steeplechase S. (NSA-G3).

Bred in Maryland by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Good Night Shirt is out of the stakes-placed Hot Story (Two Punch), also the dam of the multiple stakes-placed Story of a Lion (Lion Hearted) and the unraced three-year-old colt Under Shirt (Polish Miner). This is the family of Heartlight No. One (Rock Talk), the champion three-year-old filly of 1983, and Grade 1-winning millionaires Afternoon Deelites (Private Terms) and Soul of the Matter (Private Terms).

Steve Asmussen, who became the first trainer to win 600 Thoroughbred races in a single year in 2008, earned his first Eclipse Award for leading trainer. Known best for conditioning two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, the 43-year-old trainer enjoyed a banner season in 2008, winning a total of 623 races with more than $27.8 million in stable earnings. Other major performers included Pimlico Special (G1) hero Student Council; Pyro (Pulpit), winner of the Risen Star S. (G3), Louisiana Derby (G2) and Northern Dancer S. (G3); J Be K, who rolled to impressive scores in the Bay Shore S. (G3), Woody Stephens S. (G2) and Jersey Shore S. (G3); and Kentucky Cup Classic (G2) victor Zanjero.

Born in Gettysburg, South Dakota, Asmussen hails from a racing family, which continues to operate El Primero Training Center in Laredo, Texas. His father, Keith, was a former jockey and trainer. His mother, Marilyn, was a trainer, and his brother, Cash, won the Eclipse Award as leading apprentice jockey in 1979 and later became a champion rider in Europe. Steve took out his jockeys' license at age 16 and rode for three years in New Mexico, California and New York, prior to retiring because of his size. He began training Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses in New Mexico in 1986.

Asmussen, who has led the nation in victories for five of the past seven years, broke his previous mark of 555 wins in a single season. His previous 555-win season came in 2004, when he shattered Hall of Famer Jack Van Berg's record of 496 victories in a single year that had stood since 1976.

Asmussen is proud of the fact that his barn has won with horses at ever level, from ordinary claimers to Grade 1 performers.

"It's had a lot to do with my background," he said upon breaking the record. "The success we've had with the Curlins and the Pyros has been fantastic. But we came from a small, Midwestern track, and I like to think that we remember where we came from."

In February, Asmussen became just the eighth Thoroughbred trainer to score 4,000 wins, and he is now well on his way to 5,000.

Garrett Gomez was named leading jockey for the second consecutive year. The 37-year-old rider just missed establishing a new earnings mark in 2008, banking $23,564,351 from his mounts. Gomez earned his third Bill Shoemaker Award for the top performance by a jockey in the Breeders' Cup, winning four races over the two-day program at Santa Anita.

A native of Tucson, Arizona, Gomez ranked first among all North American jockeys in earnings for the third consecutive year. He won 214 races from 1,029 starters, a 21 percent success rate. His top mounts included champions Midshipman (Unbridled's Song) and Indian Blessing (Indian Charlie) as well as Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Midnight Lute, Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint victress Ventura (Chester House), Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile hero Albertus Maximus (Albert the Great), Travers S. (G1) winner Colonel John (Tiznow) and Pacific Classic (G1) victor Go Between.

With eight Breeders' Cup race wins, Gomez is currently tied for fifth, and he's got his sights set on Jerry Bailey's all-time mark of 15.

Known for his aggressive riding style, Pascacio Lopez captured the Eclipse Award as 2008's leading apprentice. A native of Veracruz, Mexico, Lopez recorded his first win on July 13, 2007, at Calder and totaled 171 victories before becoming a journeyman last September.

Lopez, who compiled 13 stakes wins during a four-month period, led all jockeys with 161 wins during the 2008 Calder meet. His aggressive tactics helped garner top mounts, but Lopez also ran into trouble with stewards, who handed down more than 60 days in suspension to the up-and-coming performer. On November 14, management barred him from riding at Calder and other Churchill Downs-owned tracks through January 2.

Lopez is presently riding at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs.

Frank Stronach, who garnered three previous Eclipse Awards as leading owner in 1998-2000, took home the top award for owner for a record fourth time in 2008. It was a veritable photo-finish, as Stronach won by a single first-place vote, 47 to 46, over IEAH Stables. His Stronach Stables ranked second nationally by wins (214) and earnings ($6,677,124).

A native of Weiz, Austria, Stronach immigrated to Canada in 1954 and enjoyed enormous business success in the tool and die industry. The 76-year-old is the owner of Magna Entertainment Corp., which owns and operates several racetracks in the United States, and Stronach has campaigned many top horses over the last 40 years, including 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, 1997 Belmont S. (G1) winner Touch Gold and 2000 Preakness (G1) victor Red Bullet.

His top performers in 2008 included Ginger Punch; Ginger Brew (Milwaukee Brew), who won a Sovereign Award as Canada's champion three-year-old filly; Harlem Rocker (Macho Uno); and Spring Waltz (Silver Charm). Stronach's Adena Springs has breeding farms in Kentucky, Florida and Canada.

Frank Stronach's Adena Springs maintained its stranglehold upon leading breeder when winning the Eclipse Award for a record fifth consecutive time in 2008. Stronach also earned the award in 2000.

With breeding and stallion operations in Kentucky, Florida and Canada, Adena Springs topped all breeders for the sixth consecutive year, and the numbers weren't close in 2008. Horses bred by Adena earned $19,247,705 and won 604 races from 3,679 starts. Stonerside Stable was second-best, with 130 wins and $8,521,912 in earnings.

Top stallions at Adena Springs include Awesome Again, El Prado (Ire), Ghostzapper and Macho Uno.

More Racing Headlines:

Miss Temple City earns hard-fought victory in Matriarch

Annals of Time captures first stakes win in Hollywood Derby

Penn Derby upgraded to Grade 1 for 2017

Miss Temple City headlines Del Mar's closing-day Matriarch

Trio of graded stakes on tap Saturday

Send this article to a friend